I will work on three writing projects for February. Well, I have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and I like to work on different projects.

The first project is a short story, and I have written chapter 1 of the first section. My word count says there are about 2,000 words and my goal total was 4,000 words for the story. I’ll be increasing my overall word count for that project is my main focus. My goal is to write half of the first draft.

The second writing project is I’m reworking a novel. That has been a challenge for me; my mind is playing out different scenarios with the characters’ storyline. I need to work on a possible ending to help guide me to write an intriguing middle. So, that’s my goal for project two.

The third project is that I am writing the first draft of a novel. I took a break allowing the creative juices to replenish. My goal is to write three chapters this month.

Writing isn’t for the faint of heart, requiring commitment and dedication to finishing stories to completion. The past year, I’ve learned more about writing, and my overall health is improving. That’s allowing me to create better concepts for my stories.

Here’s some exciting news!

So, I’ve decided to change ‘Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands’ with a new thrilling concept. The great thing about ebooks I can update changes anytime.

My readers deserve to have the best story possible I can give them. In the meantime, ‘Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands’ will still be available on Amazon.

Facebook is a great way for staying in touch with friends and family, especially if they live out of town. It’s an excellent place to virtually meet other like-minded people too.

Unfortunately, Facebook has a dark side. You’ve probably seen a simple misunderstanding turn into a full-blown drama. Sometimes friends or family stop responding to your posts, even worse, they unfriend you. They use the dreaded blocking feature, leaving you with unanswered questions when others asked you what happened.

Why?

Words are very powerful. They transmits meaning, emotions, and our thoughts to others.

This is why grammar and punctuation are so crucial, with a well-develop vocabulary is essential, to explain the concept.

Based on my experience of using Facebook, it was designed to hold a conversation like two people chatting in a coffee shop. This is why emojis were invented to display emotions and let the reader know the emotional context of the post.

But when using Facebook we rely on slang. A lack of grammar and punctuation creeps into our posts and results incorrectly explaining your concept. Then people get upset although most friends will understand once emotions have settled down.

When a Facebook drama happens, even on a post that is conveying the right idea, it may be interpreted differently by the reader because there is no emotional context given.

There is another reason why drama happens on Facebook and very likely from a person you do not talk to or see in your everyday life. This person doesn’t have an understanding of your emotional compass.

Drama is about people. This is especially so with the individual who likes to cause trouble. We are social creatures searching for ways to connect, and troublemakers will use that against us.

There are three reasons for drama:

Reason one: People can be jerks, and if you call them on it drama will explode! They just don’t care.

Reason two: There are people lurking on Facebook waiting to vent their issues, emotional baggage and when they are stressed, they let their victims have it.

Reason three: People are so involved with their own issues and daily living. They forget about the individuals who are struggling on the other side of the screen.

In closing:

Thisworld is filled with unhappy people clinging to hurt instead of releasing it. We can keep the door open and move on with our lives.

There is something I need to share with you. I am Dyslexic and proud of it. I have been pondering when to release this info about myself because there is a lack of understanding about Dyslexia. Perhaps my post can educate one person and help society change for the better.

What do I mean by being Dyslexic? I have Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia. Let’s look at the differences.

Dyscalculia – affects the ability to understand a concept and do math.

What are the myths associated with being Dyslexic?

Having Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. People who are Dyslexic have trouble decoding language when reading. There is no cure for Dyslexia because it is not a disease. It is a neurological condition causing the brain to have difficulty decoding language in written form, such as reading.

Children who are Dyslexic outgrow it. No they don’t. Dyslexic children become Dyslexic adults.

Why do people who are Dyslexic try to hide it?

Stigma. Being labeled with a lack of intelligence keeps a lot of Dyslexics living in the closet. I used to be one of them until I realized that people need to hear my story. This is the only way to change our society and help future generations of Dyslexic children and their parents.

How does being Dyslexic affect me?

Sometimes when I am talking, I struggle to find the correct word to use or pronouncing the word can be difficult. I love to read but some days it is hard to understand the context. The major struggle I face is Dysgraphia as this affects my writing skills. I wasn’t tested for it but I have it. Here’s why I know.

One day, I was researching Dysgraphia as I had never heard of it. After reading books and articles that described how it affects writing, I realized this was my issue in a nutshell!!

Dysgraphia affects my handwriting, organizing my thoughts on paper, and grammar and punctuation skills. Yet, I sit in front of the computer screen expressing myself in written communication because I can write well and I want my voice to be heard.

Am I afraid this revelation will hurt my writing career?

No. People have used, and will continue to use, my weaknesses against me. Unfortunately people can be cruel or close-minded.

As long as I provide an entertaining and well-edited novel for my readers, I will have a great career.

In Closing

I will be discussing Dyslexia in more detail and how it impacts my life in future blogs. In the meantime, I hope this post has given you a better understanding of being Dyslexic.